Home Winterizing Tips

Winter is a hard time for any house, and the fact that the weather keeps most owners inside can also mean that issues can often times develop without their notice. In order minimize the potential from problems the best course of action is to prepare by winterizing your home.

Before the winter sets in it is important to check everything from top to bottom starting with your roof. Make sure that all the shingles are in good repair and that any balding, fraying, or cracked tiles are replaced.

Make sure that your gutters are cleaned out and in good repair. Replace any warped, bent, or rusted sections. Be sure that the gutters are flush against the roof without any gaps. Clear all drains to be sure that they divert water away from the foundation of your home.

Check all the windows to ensure that they close properly and do not allow for drafts. Use caulking or weather-stripping to seal things up properly. The same goes for all doors to the outside. The use of a rolled up towel or cutely crafted draft snake may be an inexpensive solution, but replacing any seals or insulation strips may prove a better solution in the long run.

Give your house a walk around visual inspection checking for any cracks in the wood or brick. Be sure to clear all debris and vegetation away from the foundation to reduce potential for decay. Also seal up any cracks to prevent small animals from getting in. However, be aware that some brick homes are constructed with gaps that are intentional and these should be covered with screens that allow for the necessary air flow, while also preventing small animals such as mice access.

Be sure to call out an exterminator to spray for any pests. Though most insects are most active in the summer, it is a good idea to make sure that none survive to burrow in for the winter.

Contact Home Improvements of the Carolinas or call (336) 271-3323 for any repairs to help get your home ready for the winter. Our professionally licensed staff can handle almost any job from restorations to repairs and more for residential and commercial buildings, in Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Burlington, Cary, Raleigh, Haw River, Mebane, Kernersville, Chapel Hill and in-between.